Automatic safety gas-valve.



Application med may 13, 1901.)

J M WESCOTT & C B SMITH AUTUMATIC SAFETY GAS VALVE.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE., e

JAMES M. WESCOT'I, OF HORNELLVSVILLE, AND CHARLES B. SMITH, OFPRATTSBURG, NEW YORK.

AUToMATlc 'sAFi-:TY GAS-VALVE.

SPEGFKGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,17 2, dated January28, 1 902.

Application led MaylS, 1901. Serial No. 60.070. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES M. Wnsoorr,4 residingV at Hornellsville, andOHARLEsB. SMITH, residingat Prattsb'urg, in the county of Steuben andState of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Safety Gas-Valves, of which thefollowing is a speciication.

Our invention relates to an improved automatic safety gas-valve, moreparticularly an v improvement upon the automatic safetygasvalve setforth in our application filed October 20, 1900, Serial No. 33,779,which merges into Letters Patent bearing date of May 14,

The invention aims to construct an automatic safety gas-valve especiallyadapted for use in connection with pipes for conducting natural gas to aburner or burners, and in which the several parts of the valve are soconstructed and arranged'as to automatically shut od the passage orpassages leading to the burner, when from any cause the pressure of gasis decreased below the normal average or when an accident orbreak occursin the main or supply pipe,- the `automatic closing of the valve beingprovided to prevent any escape of the gas at that time in oase thestop-cock at the burner has been left open.`

The principal object of the invention is to provide means for adjustingthe tension of the spring operating the actuating mechanism for seatingthe `inlet and outlet valves.

A further object ot' the invention consists in providing means'which canbe adjusted so that the inlet and outlet valves will beseated in such amanner as to completely close the inlet and outlet to the valve-casing.'

A further object of the invention is to construct the supporting meansto which the valves are connected in such manner as to enable theinterior of the valve-casing to be examined, so that if the operation ofthe valves is unsatisfactory the cause for the same can be determined.

The invention further aims to provide a valve for the inlet to the valve-casing and another for the outlet from said casing` and to connectsaid valves by toggle mechanism to be actuated by a piston for closingboth of said valves when the gas in the valve-casing falls below normalpressure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for indicatingthat the said valves have been closed by a fall of pressure in thevalve-casing andto permit resetting of said valves or opening of thesame from the outside of the valve-casing, so that a iow ot gas to theburner or burners is resumed.

The invention consists in certain novel features in the construction,combination, and arrangement of the several parts in our improvedsat'ety gas-valve, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichvFigure l represents a centrally longitudinal section of our improvedsafety gas-valve, showing the valves open. Fig. 2 is a part sectionalelevation of the same with a modified form of valve-casing and showingthe valves closed. Fig. 3 is an end elevation with the plug at one endof the valve-casing removed. Figli is a perspective view of the plate towhich the valves are pivoted. Fig. 5 is aperspective of thetoggle-connected valves detached. Fig. 6 is across-section of one of thevalves'.

Referring to the drawings for details of construction,the'reference-numeral l designates a substantially cylindricalvalve-casing having one end provided with a tubular or cylindricalextension 2, the latter closed at its outer end by an integral casting3. The eX- tension 2 may be of reduced diameter as compared with themain body of said valve-casing. The other end of saidvalve-casing has asomewhat-extended portion 4, which is internally screw-threaded forreception of a centrally perforated screw-plug 5, having a reduced andexternally-screw-threaded eX- tension or neck 6 for engagement of acentrally-perforated screw-cap 7, Figs. l and 2.

On opposite sides and intermediate the valve-casing extensions 2 and 4the main portion or body l of the valve-casing is con structed with atubular inlet-nozzle 8 and a tubular outlet-nozzle 9, both the nozzles 8and 9 being internally screw-threaded, the former to receive anexternally-screw-threaded adjustable valve-seat l0 and the latter to re-IOO ceive a delivery-pipe connection or union for connecting up thevalve-casing. The nozzle 9 is formed with an integral squared portion 11to permit of the gripping of a Wrench thereto for screwing up thevalve-casing to the union or. pipe connection. The valve-seat issuitably notched or recessed at its lowerA end, as at 12, to permit ofthe engagement of a tool therewith for adjustment. The nozzle 8 is alsoexternally screw-threaded for engaging with the screw threaded coupling13, through which the valve -casing obtains a union or connection with agas-supply pipe 14.

The inlet-nozzle 8 and the outlet-nozzle 9 are controlled, respectively,by valves 15l and 16, arranged Within the main body 1 of thevalve-casing. Each valve 15 and 16 is provided on one edge with apartly-circular lug 17, arranged at right angles to the valve-disks, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5, and these lugs 17 are provided on their oppositesides with pintles 18, through which the respective valves are hingedwithin the valve-casing. Each valve 15 and 16 has its engaging faceprovided with a washer or packing 19 of leather or other suitablematerial and which is removably secured to each valve by the screw 2O orother suitable lneans. By securing the washer in the manner set forth toeach of the valves when it becomes worn it can readily ,be removed and anew one secured in position. v

There is arranged in one end of the main valve-body 1 a plate 2l, withthe sides cut away in a semi-elliptical manner, Figs. 1,. 2, and 4. Thisplate 21 has a central perforation 22, and its rim or body portion isprovided at opposite points with radial slots 23 for receiving the lugs17 of the two hinged valves. In the periphery of this plate 21 there areprovided grooves or kerfs 24, that intersect the slots 23 at rightangles, and in Ithese grooves 24 are received the pintles 18 on the lugs17 of the two hinged valves. One side of the ring or annular plate 21has projecting therefrom a pin or dowel 25, Fig. 5, to enter a recess26, Fig. 3, in a shouldered or internal web portion 27 of the central 0rbody portion of the valve-casing. By means of the pin and recess 26 theplate 21 is prevented from turning, and thus the valves 15 and` 16 aremaintained in the required position for controlling the inlet and outletnozzles of the valve-casing. The construction and arrangement of theslots 23 and grooves 24 of this plate 21 are such as to permit a sucientplay of the valves 15 and 16 to insure accurate seating of said valveswhen closed.

The inner face of each valve 15 and 16 has pivotally connected therewithone end of a toggle-link 28, and the other end of each toggle-link ispivotally connected with a'slideblock 29, Figs. 1, 2, and 5, having acentral perforation 30 in line with the longitudinal axis of thevalve-casing.

The casting 3, closing the outer end of the valve-casing extension 2, isprovided with a central longitudinal bore 31, terminating in avent-opening 32 at the outer end of said casting 3. The bore 31 of thecasting 3 receives one end portion of the stem 33 of a piston 34, thatis arranged to operate in the reduced cylindrical portion or extension 2of the valvecasing. A packing 35 on the outer end of the piston-stem 34will insure closing the vent'32 when the piston is in its outermostposition. The inner face or end of the casting 3 is constructed With arecess 36, in which is arranged the adjusting-nut 37, through whichoperates the stem 33. The walls ot' the recess 36 are screw-threaded andare engaged by the external screw-threads of the adjusting-nut 37 forretaining the latter in the desired position. The adjusting-nut 37 notonly forms a bearing for one end of the coiled. tension-spring 38, butalso forms a means to permit of adjusting the latter. The outer end ofthe spring 38 bears against one face of the pistonhead. On its otherface the piston-head 34 carries a somewhat-elongated hub portion 39,through which the slide-block 29 is actuated for closing the valves 15and 16 when the pressure of gas within the valve-casing falls below thepressure to which the spring 38 may have been adjusted by means of thenut 37. The passage of gas to the burner or burners will thus beautomatically cut off whenever the gas falls below normal, as by anyaccident to the gas-main or service-pipe or any serious interruption tothe fiow of gas, so that should the gas cock or valve at the burner havebeen left open there will be no escape ofgas at that point when thenormal ow of gas is resumed.

The inner end portion of the piston-stem 33 is constructed with an axialrecess or bore 40, Fig. 1, to receive an elongated andcircumferentially-reduced portion or extension 41 of a rod 42, having aknob or head 43 on its other end outside the valve-casing. On this rod42 there is formed a collar 44, which is so located as to be capable ofbeing brought into bearing contact With one face of the slide-block 29opposite that face of said block against which the hub portion of thepiston is designed to act.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2 the construction is the same asthat set forth in Fig. 1, the same reference-numerals being appliedthereto, with the exception that the extension 2 is not closed by theintegral casting 3, but is closed by the externally-screwthreadedplug45. This plug is similarly constructed as the casting 3, with theexception that itis separable from the extension 2.

In setting the parts of this safetyvalve mechanism into operativeposition for permitting the flow of gas at a usual or an ordinarypressure to the burner or burners it is only necessary to push inwardthe head 43 of the rod 42, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby bringing thecollar 44 of said rod against the slideblock 29, so as to force thetoggle-links 28 into an inclined position, thus opening the valves IOOIIO

15 and 16,Which control the flow of gas through the valve-casing. Whenthe valves are in the open position shown in Fig. 1, the packing 35 onthe end of the piston-stem 34 will close the vent 32 and prevent anyescape of gas in that. direction. The act ot' opening the valves 15 and16 will atthe same time compress the spring 38 in readiness for actionin closing said valves when the normal pressure of gas within thevalve-casing falls as a result of accident or otherwise. At this timethe compressed spring 3S will expand, thereby forcing the piston 34 inan inward direction and causing its hub 39 to bear against theslideblock 29, consequently extending the togglelinks 28, and throughthem forcing the valves 15 and 16 to their seats. All flow of gasthrough the valve-casing is thus automatically cut off, and consequentlythere can be no escape of gas at a burner or burners should the accidentbe repaired or the iiow of gas resumed before the valves 15 and 16 arereset. It will also be seen that the movement of the slide-block 29 inclosing the valves 15 and 16 will cause said slide-block to bear againstthe collar 44 of the rod 42, thereby forcing outward the head 43 of saidrod. The outwardlyextended position of the rod 42 as thus produced willat once indicate that the valves 15 and 16 are closed and that no flowof gas can be obtained at the burner without resetting 'said valves l5and 16 by pushing said rod 42 seen that by the employment of the nut 37the tension of the spring 3S can be adjusted as desired. The valve-seat10 can also be adjusted so that it will secure theaccurate seating ofthe valves 15 and 16 for securely closing the inlet and outletnozzles 8and 9 ofthe valve-casing, there being a sufficient play of the rod 42for such purpose. lt will also .be evident that by constructing theplate 21 with substantially semi-elliptical-shaped sides the interior ofthe valve-casing can be seen.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the valvemechanism are such as to insure reliable automatic action for shuttingoff a ow of gas to a burner or burners when the pressure of gas fallsbelow normal, as by accident or otherwise, and the position of the rod42 and its head 43 will always indicate whether the valves 15 and 16 areopen or closed.

What we claim as our invention is- 1. In an automatic safety gas-valve,the combination with the valve-casing and its inlet and outlet, of apair of valves for controlling said `'inlet and outlet, a plate in saidcasing having its sides cut away for the purpose specified and suitablyconnected with said valves, a slide-block having toggle-link connectionswith said valves, means for moving said slide-block by hand to open saidvalves, and an adjustable automatically-actuated piston formoving saidslide-block in an opposite direction to close said valves on fall ofgaspressure below normal, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic safety gas-valve, the combination with thevalve-casing and its inlet and outlet, of a plate in said casinghaving\its sides cut away for the purpose specitied, a pair of valveshinged to said plate and having a packing removably secured to theirengaging face and adapted to control said in-` let and outlet, aslide-block having togglelink connections with said valves, alongitudinally-movable rod for moving said block in one direction toopen said valves, one end portion of said rod being extended outside thevalve casing and serving to indicate whether the valves are open orclosed, and an adjustable spring-pressed piston for automatically movingsaid slide-block in the opposite direction to close said valves on fallof gaspressure below normal, substantially as de scribed.

3. In an automatic safety gas-valve, the combination with thevalve-casing and its inlet and outlet, of a plate in said casing havingits sides cut away for the purpose specied, a pair of valves hinged tosaid plate for controlling said inlet and outlet, an adjustablevalve-seat for one of said valves, a slideblock supported in thevalve-casing between said valves and having a toggle-link connectionwith each, a longitudinally-movable rod for movingsaid slide-block inone direction to break extension of the toggles and thereby open saidvalves, and an adjustable springpressed piston for automatically movingsaid slide-block in the opposite direction to close said valves on fallof gas-pressure below normal, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic safety gas valve, the

combination with the valve-casing and its inlet and outlet, of anadjustable valve-seat in said inlet, a pair of valves for controllingsaid inlet and outlet, packing suitably connected to the engaging faceof said valves, a plate having the sides thereof suitably cut away forthe purpose specified and suitablysup- IIO ported in the valve-casing,means for hinging the valves to said plate, a slide-block supported inthe valve-casing and having togglelink connections with said valves, alongitudinally-movable rod projecting from the valvecasing, for movingsaid slide-block in one direction to open said valves, and an adjustablespring-pressed piston for automatically moving said slide-block in theopposite direction to` close said valves on fall of gas-pressure belownormal, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic safety gasvalve, the combination with thevalve-casing and its inlet and outlet, said valve-casing being furtherprovided in one end with a screw-plug and at its opposite end with anintegral casting, said plug and casting having axial perforations one ofwhich constitutes a vent, of a plate in said casing having its sides cutaway for the purpose specified, valves hinged to said plate forcontrolling the inlet and the outlet of said valve casing, an adjustablevalve-seat for one of said valves, a slide-block supported in thevalve-casing between said valves and having a toggle-link connectionwith each, a rod extended through the perforation of said plug formoving said slide-block in one direction by hand from the outside of thevalve-casing t0 set the valves in open position, and an adjustableautomatically-actuated mechanism mounted in the valve-casing to controlthe gas-vent and to close the valves at the inlet and outlet of thevalve-casing on fall of gas-pressure below normal, substantially asdescribed.

6. n an automatic safety gasvalve, the combination with the valve-casingand itsvinlet and outlet, of a plate secured in the casing and havingits side cut away for the purpose specified, a pair of'valves hinged tosaid plate

